Stories From The Streets

Have you ever wondered about the people who pass you in a blur on the streets? Where they come from, who they are and what stories lie behind those stoic faces? They say a picture speaks a thousand words, and in the world of photojournalism, that couldn’t hold more true.

“I’m a full-time writer, so between that and freelance projects, I’m starting to feel a little burnt out. I enjoy my job and writing in general, but this is not what I want to do for the rest of my life. My mom worked really hard for over 40 years only to suffer a stroke a few years back. It made me think, ‘what’s the point of working so hard when it might all just be for nothing one day?’. My goal is to buy a piece of land in some quiet corner of the globe and be self-sustainable. I want to raise my own cattle and live off the land.”

“As someone heavily involved in the arts and music scene in Singapore – I’m a rapper and music video director – I’m slightly disenchanted with the lack of community integration here. I remember a club I went to into New York City a year and a half ago, and I was blown away. The crowd was really into the music and rapping along with the emcee most of the night, which is something you rarely see here. I’m trying to start a band now but it’s a difficult process because the people I’ve met so far don’t seem up for collaborations – everyone just wants to do their own thing. That being said, I still love this country. I’m not from here, but everything I’ve done to date is to establish myself as a Singaporean. I went to NUS; and I’ve served National Service – the scene is challenging here but at the end of day, I’m happy”

“I’m a single mother of a 16-year old son who is in secondary 3 this year. I work 9 hour shifts at a Japanese restaurant in order to support us, and it’s been a tough journey. I left my husband when my boy was 6 months old, and had to stay with a friend for awhile because I couldn’t afford a place of my own. I didn’t want to burden my family as they already have enough on their plates, so I just soldiered on with a little help from some relatives. Now, I have a flat in Yishun and despite everything that’s happened, I think we’re doing alright.”

Mona Teo
Profile of writerMona Teo is a writer based in Singapore who believes that there is nothing more powerful than the written word (not counting coffee). An avid scuba diver and traveler, she relies on her Kindle to get her through flights and seeks inspiration from the world around her.